Travel Policy

Below are iSchool general guidelines for travel policies and procedures.  These policies are not meant to supersede University travel policies, which are available at UT Handbook of Business Procedures. Please visit this site for detailed information.

A person can only be reimbursed for his or her own expenditures.

Before Traveling

1. Complete and submit the Request for Travel Authorization Form to Jennifer Kryska (eid: kryskajl) at least 3 weeks prior to travel begin date for domestic travel and a minimum of 5 weeks for foreign travel. University policy requires all travel authorizations to be approved prior to the date that travel begins. Late RTA submissions are subject to CBO approval. The dean will receive email notification on all late RTAs, therefore please submit prior to travel. Submit this request whether or not there is a cost to UT. Additional approval is required for foreign and Washington DC travel. Most foreign destinations are currently considered restricted regions and travel must be approved by the International Oversight Committee IOC. (Note: Canada and Mexico are considered international travel by IOC). For information on this policy and its procedures, please go to Texas Global’s UT Travel Policy to Restricted Regions Web page. Travelers must also comply with UTS190 International Travel Policy. If applying for the Faculty Travel Grant, please complete the FTG application available here.

2. Arrange air transportation with the Anthony Travel or Corporate Travel, two of the UT travel contractors. If you want to do it yourself, you can use the Concur online travel tool to make your flights, rental car, and hotel reservations. Please note that all business related airfare must be booked through the two UT travel contractors. All business-related car rentals are required to be arranged through any of the five contracted companies: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz or National.  For additional information, exceptions to the policies, please visit the UT Travel Management website. Direct billing for rental car is only available through Avis, Enterprise, or National. To request direct billing of rental car, please complete the Rental Car Direct Billing Request form available through Travel management Services.

3. Book your lodging. If using state funds, please look for a state contracted hotel. Hotel directory listing is available here. Reimbursement on federal grants is set by the GSA.

While Traveling

Travel must be planned for maximum savings and efficiency. Original receipts are required for reimbursement. Please collect all itemized receipts. The following is a list of reimbursable Expenses:

1. Transportation:

   1. Airfare

   2. Rental Car: must use state contracted rental cars companies when available. Please visit the UT Travel Management for more information.

   3. Train

   4. Bus

   5. Taxi

   6. Personal Car Mileage: reimbursed at the rates listed on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' Travel Reimbursement Rates Web page.on mileage rate published on the state.

2. Meals and Lodging:

   1. Receipts for lodging are required. Overnight stay is required. Only single occupancy can be claimed.

   2. Receipts for meals are required if actual meal expenses exceed $51 dollar per day. Local accounts are limited to a combination of actual meal and lodging not to exceed $375 per day outside of Texas. Inside Texas the limit is $260.

   3. Reimbursement on federal grants is set by the GSA.

3. Other Travel Expenses:

Itemized receipts are required for all other travel expenses. Expenses must be business related. The following are examples of incidental travel expenses:

1.  

   1. Business phone calls

   2. Gasoline for rental cars

   3. Registration fee, if paid by traveler

   4. Parking/Toll fees

   5. Gratuities: Not permitted on state accounts. Limited to 15% on local accounts.

After Travel

To facilitate reimbursement of business travel expenses:

1. Submit a Travel Reimbursement Request to Jennifer Kryska (eid: kryskajl) with original receipts. Request for travel reimbursement expenses must be made within 60 days of your return date.

2. Jennifer Kryska will process the payment voucher, contact you for your signature and submit the voucher and supporting documents to the Office of Accounting for payment.

3. Generally, it takes 2 to 3 weeks to receive a payment.